MSc Forensic Psychology

The MSc Forensic Psychology at Goldsmiths provides specialist training in the assessment, investigation, and treatment of criminal behaviour, giving students a strong foundation in forensic theory and applied practice. It suits psychology graduates or practitioners aiming for careers in criminal justice, forensic mental health, or applied research.

Curriculum Structure

Students study Assessment & Intervention in Forensic Psychology, where they learn how to evaluate offender risk and apply evidence-based therapeutic methods to clients with mental health and personality disorders. In Psychology, Crime & Law, they explore legal systems, criminological theory, and the psychological dynamics of crime from a broad criminological perspective. The Investigative Forensic Psychology module teaches investigative interviewing techniques, deception detection, profiling, and eyewitness memory.

Alongside these, Professional Issues in Psychological Practice builds students’ understanding of ethics, human rights, report writing, and stakeholder collaboration in forensic settings, while Research Design & Analysis and Statistical Methods equip them to design and analyse rigorous empirical studies. The programme culminates in a Research Project, where students propose, conduct, and present a substantive piece of forensic psychological research.

Focus areas (string):
“Forensic assessment, offender treatment, investigative interviewing, crime-law psychology, professional ethics, forensic research methods”

Learning outcomes (in a string):
“Master assessment and intervention with criminal populations; apply psychology to investigative and legal systems; understand forensic ethics; design and complete rigorous forensic research; prepare for further professional or doctoral forensic training.”

Professional alignment (accreditation):
Designed to meet the British Psychological Society (BPS) requirements for Stage 1 Forensic Psychology. 

Reputation (employability rankings):
Goldsmiths is known for research-led psychology training, and graduates from this MSc commonly move into roles in the NHS, prison and probation services, police, justice policy, or more advanced forensic psychology training.